Republican backs gay marriage after learning son is gay

Funny, huh, how that hard line you rode for so long can change once something affects you personally?

That’s what Senator Rob Portman has done. The Republican from Ohio now supports same-sex marriage because his son has said he’s gay.

In part, I give the guy credit. Gay marriage is one of the hottest social/political issues right now and going against the Conservative or Republican belief that marriage should be between two people of the opposite sex is a bold move, and a move I suspect his constituents won’t appreciate.

Politics is a career, family is not. His son is his family, the boy he raised to be a man and the Yale graduate, is not any less (or more) of a person because he’s gay, but what about the other gay men and women in his community? W0uld he have made this move if his best friend’s son, or a heavy campaign donor’s kid came out?

Portman is the only sitting Republican senator to publicly support of gay marriage, but I suspect others will eventually follow. I mean, did anyone predict NFL players — a sport as manly as pork ribs, beer and belching — would campaign for legalizing same-sex partnerships?

30 Responses

Yeah, sounded good, didn’t it? I’m sorry, an opinion of gay marriage doesn’t change overnight. An opinion like that is something most people grow up with, and will not change because your son came out of the closet…nice try though…

When it hits close to home like it has for him, it’s easier to back. That conviction needs to reach farther than “close to home”. Regardless, I am very happy he is supportive. Perhaps he can be a good spokesman for the Log Cabin Republicans.

I am really glad that he changed his opinion, but if he didn’t have a gay son, would his opinion have changed anyway down the line? I’m curious, did he truly believe gay marriage was wrong, or was he only voting with party lines? Was it the fact that his son was gay that changed his mind, or was it a fundamental belief and reexamination of his stance on human rights? Instead of sticking up for what his constituents want, was he ignoring them and furthering his party’s political agenda until now?

I don’t know what the majority of his constituents feel, but as an elected official his job is to represent them, not himself.

That said, congratulations and thank you Senator for realizing just how wrong you were. I hope you can convince others to feel the same way.

In effect Portman’s been saying for years, “No, you gay folks shouldn’t be allowed to marry” when it didn’t seem to affect him personally. Now that the law is restricting his son’s rights, he “gets religion” and flips. I don’t expect to see Portman in an updated edition of “Profiles in Courage.”

#16JayK – it was a shot at Portman and his kind for being against it in the first place.

It’s easy for the anti gay crowd to speak out against gay people whom they don’t know, but when it becomes personal, they realize that they are no different, and how spiteful their crusades against their rights have been.

@ann – That’s my point, though. He’s only standing up for what is good for him and his family, which is not what he was elected to do. He was elected to represent his constituents, who happen to include gay people. Just because it’s suddenly personal doesn’t mean he’s changing his opinion for the right reason.

If he had instead thought about what his constituents wanted in the first place, or taken into account anyone outside of his own little family, he may have come to this conclusion a long time ago. Or maybe not. But having a sudden “change of heart” because of a gay son does not necessarily mean that he’s doing it for the right reasons, but merely so that HIS specific son can have the right to marry. If his son weren’t gay, he probably would have never changed his mind. And that’s wrong. And as citizens, we are required to judge our elected officials according to our morals, values and beliefs. What do you think we have elections for?

But like I said, I hope others will change their minds as well. Even if they do it in a not completely “true” way as representatives of the human race but instead are doing it from selfish motives – still, it’s progress.

Jay (#16) – When it comes to the cause, I am glad that Portman’s position has changed. But I’d rather see someone conclude that same-sex marriage ought to be supported because it’s the right thing to do – i.e., because gays are entitled to the same basic human rights as heterosexuals – and not “well, now that the issue affects someone close to me I guess I’ll support it.”

Ryan, I understand that. What you fail to understand is that this is EXACTLY how so many hearts and minds have been changed over the years. If this is unacceptable to you, you’re effectively not going to get those allies in the first place. My parents included.

Profiles in Courage nod: we’ll done. It is frustrating that it takes such a personal connection for this man to feel empathy. Glad his view changed. Wish consideration for the rights of millions had been enough to do it, though.

Ryan and Don’t Think – His act took a great deal of courage, as it will surely result in him being challenged in the next Republican primary for his seat by a far-right firebreathing Tea Party whacko, which will hopefully blow up in the Tea Party’s face as another seat in a swing state turns Democrat.
Before all you GOPers condemn Portman, don’t forget that your icon Deadeye Dick Cheney did the same thing after his daughter came out and married her partner.

#19 I understand but for most supporters, they either are gay or know or have known someone who is, which is why they are supporters.
Most issues are run and supported by those who have a vested interest in the issue.

I just don’t understand judging him harshly because he changed his mind based on his family. What better reason to change one’s mind?

Also, it’s one thing to be anti-gay marriage. It’s quite a different sin to cast out your child because he or she is gay -he saw that line and did the right thing.